You'll walk three laps around the earth, or some 75,000 miles, by age 50 if you're an average Joe. Perhaps that's one reason your foot problems are likely to increase with age. However, an active lifestyle actually helps you to have healthy feet. The key isn't curtailing your activity --- it's caring for your feet. If you have rough, dry feet it behooves you to give your feet some TLC.
Significance
The skin on your feet undergoes an extraordinary amount of wear compared to the skin on other areas of your body. When you compromise the integrity of this skin, you can suffer pain and even infection. Cracking, corns, calluses and blisters can all roughen the skin on your feet and cause problems. Foot problems can make it tough for you to get around. If your rough, dry feet begin to crack and become painful, this can curtail your activities and impact your lifestyle. Neglecting your feet and assuming that foot pain is just "normal" is the wrong route to take, says Paul Langer, author of "Great Feet For Life." Having a reduced or even lost ability to walk because of painful feet have effects that go beyond just your tootsies: social isolation, lower self-esteem and a decreased quality of life.
Statistics
If you have rough, dry skin on your feet you are not alone. Some 29 percent of women have skin issues with their feet, while about 11 percent of men suffer from these problems. About 27 percent of women have calluses or corns, and about 12 percent of men are likewise afflicted, according to Langer.
Causes
Many factors can cause dry skin on your feet. These include dehydration, smoking, weather changes, decreased blood flow, poor hygiene and aging. Using harsh soap also can dry out your tootsies. Infections such as athlete's foot can cause rough, dry feet, too. Thick, hard layers of skin known as corns and calluses usually develop where your shoe often rubs your foot.
Prevention/Solution
Prevent rough, dry skin on your feet or treat minor cases of this condition with good hygiene. Wash your feet daily with soap and water, dry them thoroughly -- including between the toes -- and moisturize with lotion. Moisturizers work best if you apply them right after your bath or shower, say the experts at MayoClinic.com. If you live in a dry climate, apply moisturizer twice a day. Don't wear old shoes or unwashed socks, which can harbor bacteria. Also make sure you wear breathable socks, such as those made from cotton or silk. If you live in a dry area, use a humidifier at night. Wear sandals if you use a communal shower, such as at a gym. Such care works for dry skin that is not accompanied by cracking, redness, blisters, open sores or scaling.
If your skin flakes or turns into a thick callus, use a moisturizing cream that includes a gentle exfoliant, such as alpha hydroxy acids, Langer says. Don't overuse products with these ingredients, however, or you'll irritate your skin. If you have athlete's foot, use a medication formulated for this condition along with foot powder in lieu of lotion or cream. Padding or moleskin can alleviate discomfort caused by these rough spots on your feet, according to the Mayo Clinic's website.
Considerations
Working hard to avoid rough, dry feet is especially important as you age, Langer notes, because changes to your skin as you age leave your feet more vulnerable to problems. Your skin will tear more easily and heal more slowly as you age. Langer recommends inspecting your feet daily. If you keep up on basic hygiene and nip small problems in the bud, you will likely be able to care for your feet yourself. If a skin condition becomes painful, infected or develops a rash you'll need to see a health care provider, however. And see a podiatrist instead of trying to cut your own corns or calluses at home, advise the experts at the Mayo Clinic.
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